Enclosure 3A - Project Summary Form
NATIONAL FIRE PLAN COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE AND WILDLAND URBAN INTERFACE PROJECTS
Application for Wildland Urban Interface Fuels / Education and
Prevention / Community Planning for Fire Protection Projects
Applicant
Applicant/Organization:
Pend Oreille Conservation District
Phone:
FAX:
Email:
(509) 447-4217
(509) 447-0371
info@pocd.org
Address (Street or P. O. Box, City, State, Zip):
PO Box 280 Newport WA 99156
Project Coordinator
Project Coordinator (Name and Title):
Charlotte Yergens
Organization/Jurisdiction:
Pend Oreille Soil & Water Conservation District, Pend Oreille County, Washington
Phone:
FAX:
Email:
(509) 447-4217
(509) 447-0371
charlotte@pocd.org
Project Information
Project Title:
Southern Pend Oreille Valley Fuels Reduction Plan
Proposed Project Start Date:
Proposed Project End Date:
September 1, 2002
December 31, 2004
Federal Funding Request:
Total Project Funding:
$57,305
$71,631
Are you submitting multiple projects? If so, please explain and prioritize:
Yes, fuels reduction-immediate results; research & development-long term sustainability; education-public
Brief Project Description:
Develop economic opportunities with local community partnerships focusing on reducing hazardous fuels
and defensible space in the wildland/urban interface of southern Pend Oreille County. Proposal is directed
towards utilizing small diameter wood, fire ecology, test sites and fuels reduction techniques using best
available science. The data and strategies will be locally based and available on the Pend Oreille
Conservation District Web Site. The intent is to provide direction for forest managers and landowners and
communicate to the community the importance of incorporating and implementing a defensible space fire
plan in the high risk areas surrounding the City of Newport.
Project Location (latitude/longitude if applicable):
County:
Congressional District:
Pend Oreille County
Pend Oreille County
5
Project Type: Check appropriate project type. More than one type may be checked. If only Box (4) is checked, use Enclosure 4.
(1)
(2)
Wildland Urban Interface Fuels Project
Wildland Urban Interface Education and Prevention Project
(3)
(4)
Community Planning for Fire Protection Project
Fuels Utilization and Marketing Project
If the applicant is an unincorporated area, define the geographic area being represented:
Enclosure 3B (Page 1 of 3) - Project Narrative Description
Applications for funding must include a narrative response that describes the proposal. Please do not submit responses longer than one page,
single space, 12-pitch font.
Describe project including, but not limited to:
 project location
Address these
 project implementation
items as
 anticipated outcomes
applicable:
 measures and reporting
 interagency partners





project relationship to community or natural landscape fire plans
project time frames and income
specify types of activities and equipment used
amount or extent of actions (acres, number of homes, etc)
environmental, cultural and historical resource requirements
Response:
Pend Oreille (Pond-eray) County is a rural county situated in the northeast corner of Washington State
containing 90% forestland. City of Newport is situated directly in the wildland/urban interface in the most
highly populated area of the county bordering Idaho and is an Enterprise Community. The USFS manages an
forested area called the Wolf Trail, a 160 acre parcel adjacent the northeast community of Newport. A fuels
reduction program will be initiated immediately to minimize the wildfire risk to fifty new homes on the
surrounding hills west and adjacent Wolf Trail. The reduction in fire risk will be noticed short term when the
work is completed. People have been complacent in Pend Oreille County since most people are moving here
from urban areas where wildfires do not occur. Much of the harvested private land in this forgotten part of
eastern Washington was subject to the forest practice rules of the past, the mature Ponderosa Pine and
Western Larch stands were hygraded and diameter cuts were common practice. Logging led to subdividing
and rural development as land converted into residential uses. The land is typically void of any large trees,
replacement stands of Lodgepole Pine now dominate much of the landscape in thick unproductive acreages
increasing fire risk in the wildland/urban interface. Pend Oreille Conservation District (POCD) will support
the development of a test site of a Lodgepole Pine replacement stand, treating the stand with several
management alternatives to provide landowners much needed information to encourage participation when
deciding what to do with their property. Timber grows much slower in eastern Washington than western
Washington and a high grade stand of mature Lodgepole Pine is a valuable source of timber for lumber and
house logs and Lodgepole Pine, when managed properly, will reach maturity much quicker than Ponderosa
Pine. The smaller diameter material can be used in log furniture, fencing materials and will also supply
woodchips for use at the local paper mill. Costshare opportunities will be provided to encourage replanting
with Western Larch and Ponderosa Pine in areas void of any trees and to control the biological wildfire of
noxious weeds. Root rot pockets exist throughout Pend Oreille County in many second and third growth
forests. Douglas Fir is predominate in most of these areas and highly subject to Armillaria, Douglas Fir Bark
Beetle and Mistletoe. For over 15 years, natural resource agencies have encouraged tree stand improvement
by replacing Douglas Fir with hardier, disease and fire resistant varieties. Most recently the POCD, State
DNR and the federal NRCS have made site visits to some of these areas replanted with genetically superior
tree seedlings of Ponderosa Pine and Western Larch. With the trees now 14 -20 feet, the stand is showing
signs of contracting Armilaria, root rot disease. It has been the belief of the natural resource agencies these
species were root rot resistant. The POCD will institute a test site to treat a replanted stand in a root rot area
with several management alternatives. This will modify specifications to practices provided to landowners by
the NRCS and the State Dept. of Natural Resources regarding root rot infested forests. Both Idaho and
Washington Cooperative Extensions will be included after the test site data has been collected over the long
term to assist in data analysis. In the long term the test site results have to be offered to the community in
order for the landowners to make modifications to their property. POCD has experience in presenting
information to landowners.
Enclosure 3B (Page 2 of 3) - Project Evaluation Criteria
Applications for funding must include narrative responses that address the following four criteria. Within each criterion, subcriteria are listed in descending order of importance. Limit your responses to the areas provided.
1. Reducing Fire Risk. (40 points))
A. Describe how the proposal promotes reduction of risk in high hazard areas or communities, or natural landscapes.
B. Describe how the proposed project benefits resources on federal land or adjacent non-federal land, or how it protects the safety
of communities.
C. To what extent does the project implement or create a cooperative (1) fuels treatment plan or (2) community fire strategy
(include evidence of the plan if it already exists)?
D. Explain to what extent the affected community or proponent has been involved or plans to involve the affected community in a
qualified fuels education program (e.g., FIREWISE).
E. Explain how the proposal (1) leads to, enhances or restores a local fire-adapted ecosystem, and/or (2) mitigates or leads to the
mitigation of hazardous fuel conditions.
F. How will the proposed treatments or programs be maintained in future years?
Response: The project
is directed towards immediate hazardous fuels reduction to create defensible space in
the wildland/urban interface around the City of Newport and research into the biological wildfire of stand
replacement and noxious weed contribution into the ecosystem. A 2001 winter storm swept across this part
of the county and knocked out power lines with snapped off trees resulting in increased ground fuel should a
wildfire occur. Clean up efforts have in most cases cost the landowner money after salvage logging has
occurred. Focus on fire defensible landscapes on private property, data collection and management practices
will be coordinated with the NRCS, Cooperative Extensions, WA DNR, City of Newport, PUD, local fire
districts and the POC Weed Board. POCD wrote funded grant proposals for Fire District #3 to install dry
hydrants and upgrade wildland firefighting equipment and is committed to assisting POCD in creating
Firewise communities. Minimizing the risk of a catastrophic fire event near homes in the wildland/urban
interface will benefit Wolf Trail by removing an abundance of fuel from adjacent private land. The test sites
for Lodgepole Pine and root rot treatments will provide information needed to continue the move towards a
more historical landscape. Healthy, large diameter Ponderosa Pine and Western Larch trees will achieve
desired ecosystem structure and function and are a desired outcome in minimizing risk to wildfire and their
stability in the ecosystem is critical. 5 Firewise workshops have been held in the Pend Oreille Valley. POCD
and Bonner Conservation District (BCD) sponsored a Landscaping for Fire Prevention Class in Priest River,
8 miles from Newport which was well attended.POCD and State DNR held a Firewise class in southern Pend
Oreille County where over 30 people attended. Firewise has been included in the POCD annual plan of work.
2. Increasing local capacity. (30 points)
A. How would the proposal improve or lead to the improvement of the local economy in terms of jobs and sustainable economic
activity? How many jobs are expected to be created or retained and for how long (please distinguish between essentially yearround and seasonal jobs)? How will this proposal link to toher projects (or proposed projects) to create year-round jobs?
B. To what extent will this project be offered to serve as a model for other communities or natural landscapes?
C. Will biomass or forest fuels be utilized; if so, in what manner and how much?
Response: The proposal
was presented to the City of Newport and received wide support. A healthy forest
includes much more than a dollar value, the benefits of: clean air and water, abundant fish and wildlife, open
space and picturesque scenery are a few examples of societies' demand for their preservation and with high
unemployment and reliance on tourist dollars, minimizing the risk from wildfires is vital to the community.
The POCD Board has a shared interest as landowners and the County and PUD Commissioners are concerned
with the economic development of a market for the natural resources. Education is the key to obtaining
public trust and acceptance of fuel reduction practices. Long term, applying fundamentals of wildfire
management fuel reduction practices could provide residents with seasonal employment for years. The
number of people employed to develop fire defensible spaces in the Newport wildland/urban interface would
be approximately six, as well as contracting work to the local PUD who employs seasonal crews. The
research projects will be developed on private land by volunteers and agencies.Utilizing small diameter
timber by reducing fuels on the forest floor and thinning provide the necessary materials needed for a
currently operating processing mill which utilizes small diameter logs for developing 2x4 framing material
and wood chips for the Ponderay Newsprint Mill. They are the only two mills left in Pend Oreille County.
The PO Economic Council is encouraging the development of recreational facilities which rely heavily on the
surrounding beauty of the forestland. Fire, disease and bug killed trees will affect this new market.
Enclosure 3B (Page 3 of 3) - Project Evaluation Criteria
3. Increasing interagency and intergovernmental coordination. (15 Points)
A. Describe how this project implements a local intergovernmental strategy or plan, or creates such a plan. Describe the plan if it
already exists.
B. Explain the level of cooperation, coordination or strategic planning through a “Local Coordination Group” for wildland fire
activities, or among federal, state, tribal, local government and community organizations. List the cooperators (a detailed list
of cooperators will be required for projects that are funded).
Response: With
the close proximity and likeness in landscape to our Idaho neighbors, POCD shares
information with the Bonner Conservation District (BCD). BCD and POCD are in the same Forest Service
region and the forest service management team is well represented at this level. POCD will also coordinate
with other agencies funded under similar programs to coordinate educational activities and leverage
resources. WSU has applied for Title III funds to expand fire prevention classes into their 4H and master
gardener program. Memorandums of agreement with the PUD, Planning Commission and the Weed Board
will result in increased coordination. Pend Oreille County is home to many natural resource professionals
both working and retired. POCD works closely with staff at the Newport USFS, WA Dept. of Natural
Resources, WSU/Cooperative Extension, Kalispel Tribe, local Fire Districts and the NRCS Newport Field
Office on a variety of issues, projects and plans. POCD is the lead entity for Watershed Planning under HB
2514 and for Bull Trout Recovery under HB2496.
4. Expanding Community Participation. (15 Points)
A. To what extent have interested individuals, groups, and communities been provided an opportunity to become informed and
involved in this proposal?
B. Describe the extent of local support or opposition for the project, including any cost-sharing arrangements.
C. What are the environmental, social and educational benefits or concerns of the project?
There are many issues surrounding a community Fire Protection Plan like water quality and water
quantity, natural resources, air quality, soil erosion and wildlife. Policy on timber harvesting on National
Forest Land has changed dramatically, forest management is a long term project. Cooperative Extensions are
excited to be a part of Firewise education and research. POCD has experience and is the best agency to
adequately bring all of the concerns and new management styles to the public. POCD has commitment from
the community partners, the natural resource agencies and other volunteers supporting this project. The State
DNR Stewardship Forester and the NRCS Forester have met on both of the test sites and agree they are
worthwhile endeavors. The City of Newport has many inkind resources they have offered to assist in their
commitment to protecting the homeowners in this new property tax base on the outer edge of town. The local
Fire District people are looking towards POCD for leadership in bringing about change in community
planning. Since POC is similar in vegetative cover to its neighboring Idaho, POCD shares many resources
with Idaho residences who call/visit our office including our annual tree sale and cone collection. The
economic impact could be enormous should the Lodgepole Pine test site produce positive results. POCD feels
it makes much better sense to improve native species than to introduce hybrid poplars into the county for
economic development. Results from this project will be measured both short term and long term by
immediate interest, public comment and beneficial scientific data over a ten year period.
Response:
Enclosure 3C - Project Work Form
Tasks
Time Frame
Responsible Party
Collect completed fire plans and
develop new ones for residences in the
Newport wildland/urban interface.
Train community volunteers.
Immediately
POCD, Fire Districts, Lands
Council, DNR, volunteers
Web Site Information, POCD
newletter, Newspaper Articles
describing the importance of being
Firewise and costshare opportunities
Immediately. Improve and
incorporate through Suummer
2003
POCD
Develop a costshare program with
community partners to implement
qualified defensible space plans
September 2003- 2004
POCD, PUD, City of Newport,
local fire districts, and DNR
POCD Annual Events- Incorporate
fire ecology and Firewise activities
September 2003
Spring 2004
POCD, DNR, local fire
districts, volunteers
Clearly delineate test plot sites with
DNR & NRCS, recruit volunteers to
gather the information. Develop a data
base for WSU modelling program.
Spring - Summer 2003
POCD, DNR, NRCS, WSU
and volunteers
Work with USFS Priest River
Experimental Forest to develop a
program to monitor results of the test
plot practices. Develop a monitoring
program for POCD long range plan
Winter 2003
POCD, NRCS, USFS, DNR, &
WSU
Host 2 FireWise Community Planning
meetings. Assist City of Newport in
the development of a Firewise
Community Plan and Demonstration
site
Summer 2004
POCD and other participating
agencies attending annual
planning sessions.
Prepare Final Report
December 2004
POCD, City of Newport
Top of Form
Enclosure 4D - Project Budget
Cost Category
Description
Personnel
POCD
Newport/Fire Districts
Subtotal
Federal
Agency
$32,000.00
$4,700.00
$32,000.00
$4,700.00
Fringe Benefits
POCD
$3,600.00
Subtotal
$3,600.00
Travel
Site Visits/mtgs
Trainings/events
Subtotal
Applicant
$300.00
$60.00
$360.00
Equipment
Newport/PUD
ATV Accessories
Subtotal
$1,845.00
$1,845.00
Supplies
Seedlings, grass, etc.
Newsletter,website
Subtotal
$950.00
$1,200.00
$2,150.00
$0.00
$0.00
Partner 1
$3,000.00
$3,000.00
$0.00
$1,100.00
$1,100.00
Partner 2
Total
$1,000.00
$1,000.00
$0.00
$36,700.00
$4,000.00
$40,700.00
$0.00
$0.00
$3,600.00
$0.00
$3,600.00
$0.00
$0.00
$300.00
$1,160.00
$1,460.00
$0.00
$0.00
$1,780.00
$1,845.00
$3,625.00
$0.00
$0.00
$950.00
$2,000.00
$2,950.00
$0.00
$0.00
$12,746.00
$6,000.00
$18,746.00
$1,780.00
$0.00
$800.00
$800.00
$1,780.00
$0.00
Contractual
Newport/PUD
POCD Costshare
Subtotal
$10,800.00
$6,000.00
$16,800.00
Other
Signs & education
$550.00
Subtotal
$550.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$550.00
$0.00
$550.00
$57,305.00
$5,500.00
$7,826.00
$1,000.00
$71,631.00
Total Costs
$1,946.00
$0.00
$1,946.00
Project (Program) Income1
1
Program income is the gross revenue generated by a grant or cooperative agreement supported activity during the life of the
grant. Program income can be made by recipients from fees charged for conference or workshop attendance, from rental fees
earned from renting out real property or equipment acquired with grant or cooperative agreement funds, or from the sale of
commodities or items developed under the grant or cooperative agreement. The use of Program Income during the project
period may require prior approval by the granting agency.
$0.00